Plant label



1942- 1. w. HIRSHFIELD 2,292,272

PLANT LABEL Filed June 26, 1940 Fig.1. 5,34 'fg 2a 21 37 3 Fig.3.

INVENTOR. I na WHirshf ieZd.

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE PLANT LABEL m; w. Hirshfleld, New York, N. Y.

Application June 20, 1940, Serial No. 342,463

/ 1 Claim.

, advantages, among which may be mentioned high cost, inconvenience in application, limited application, injury to plants and other articles to which the label is applied, bulk and lack of durability.

Among the objects of my invention is therefore the provision in a plant label of a construction that is simple, inexpensive, easy of application and durable, and is adapted to a variety of uses and will not injure plants or other objects to which it is attached.

Among other objects of my invention is the provision in a plant label of pliability, softness and small bulk.

These objects and such other objects as'wili hereinafter appear or be pointed out, are attained in the illustrative embodiments of my invention shown in the drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of my improved plant label;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figures 4 and 5 are bottom plan views thereof, showing portions displaced from the positions in which they are shown in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a view showing one use for the label of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a sectional the line 'I-| of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing an alternative way of applying the label;

Figures 9 and 10 are views showing other uses of my label;

Figure 11 is a perspective label of Figure 1 applied to a package of seeds;

Figure 12 is a sectional view substantially on the line l2 of Figure 11, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of my invention;

Figure 14 is a bottom plan view of the label of Figure 13 with parts thereof displaced from their positions as shown in Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figures 7 and 8', showing the application of the embodiment of view substantially on Figure 13 in a manner similar to that shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 for the first embodiment of my invention.

Before proceeding to a detailed description. of the embodiments of my improved label, I will view showing the g refer to Figures 11 and'12, which show a label attached to a package of seeds. This label may be removed from the package, and after seeds 'from the package have sprouted the label may be applied to one of the sprouted plants, as indicated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 or may be applied to other plants.

The embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a strip or'layer 2| over one face of which is spread a coating 2| of non-drying adhesive, over the midportion of which is applied a short tab 22 having a flap 23 doubled back over the tab. this tab being held in place by the adhesive 2|. A second tab'2l has one end 25 thereof applied over the adhesive layer 2|, while its other end 26 overlies the tab 22. A third tab 21 has one end 28 thereof applied over the adhesive 2|, while its other end 29 is shown overlying the flap 23 of the tab 22 and the end 26 of tab 24.

As will be readily understood the free or flap portions 23, 28 and 29 of thetabs 22, 24 and 21, respectively, are for the purpose of enabling ready removal or other manipulation of the tabs for purposes to be explained hereinafter. Such manipulation would be a troublesome matter where all portions of the tabs are held down by the adhesive. By leaving a flap portion free,

this portion may be readily grasped by the fingers and the tab may then be readily peeled off or otherwise manipulated.

It will be understood that the flap portions need not be of the form or dimensions indicated, but may have any form or size consistent with their purpose. In particular, the flap portions 26 and 28 of tabs 24 and 21 may be much shorter than shown.

The strip 20 is preferably made of flexible material with one surface smooth enough and of a character to receive markings thereon, so that the name of the plant may be applied thereto by the gardener by ordinary means at his disposal. The material is further preferably water and weather resistant so that it will not be readily affected by the weather, I have found oil-cloth suitable in'praotice. It will resist the effects of the weather, and markings on its smooth side. if a suitable marking medium is used, will be visible for as long a time as ordinary gardening uses require. The adhesive'of course is applied to its reverse side.

The adhesive 2|, as already stated, is of the non-drying type, and preferably should be capable of retaining this property even when exposed to the weather for a considerable time. Such an adhesive will yield gradually as conditions, such as plant growth, require, but will remain adheto which it is applied.

sistance to the growth and expansion of the tree.

when my improved label is attached to a seed package, as shown in Figures Hand 12, the tab 21 is stripped on sumciently to expose a small portion ll of. the adhesive 2l ,A seed package P has its edge portion minim-ted between the tab 21 and the tab 24 so that it contacts the adof holding the tabs in place and attachingthe.

label to plants and other objects, as will appear hereinafter. Where it is applied only in spots, the flaps on the tabs may be disposed somewhat be doubled over because thespace underneath it may be left free of adhesive.

The tabs 22, 24 and 21 may be made of any light flexible material-thatwill cover the adhesive without absorbing it or causing it to deteriorate. I have found coarse satisfactory. i l x, One manner of using the label justdescribed muslin tofbe very is shown in Figures 6 .and 7. It consists in removing the tabs 24 and 21 from the strip 20}as indicated in Figure 4. This is conveniently'done by first graspingthe-flap 29 with the fingers, of

- one hand and peeling oil? the tab 21, while holding theleft hand portion (25, etc.) of vthe label with the other hand, next holding thelabel at the portion 22 and grasping the flap 26 with the fingers of the free handand peeling oi! the tab 24.

The label is now doubled, over a twig such as .--the face of the package.

. hesive portion 22. The strip 22, properly marked withthe contents of the seed package appears on In this manner the a a I package is marked to indicateits contents, and differently. For instance, the'flap 22 need not in hisgardemthe purchaser receives a label that he can use Because of the small bulk oi. my label it can also be conveniently enclosed in packages of seeds .and presents an, extra, inducement to the purchaser", i

1 ,InFigures 1i a; em-

.bodimentpf my, invention; In this embodiment a strip 42, corresponding to-the strip 22 ofthe first embodiment hasa-coat of adhesive 4|" a9- fplied .topne thereoh h tab is superposed on the adhesivefl and extends from one end of the strip 42 to its midpoition' Its inner end has a doubled-over flap, so dlsposed that it doesnot touch, the adhesive, and consequently v tahlisto beremoved.

shown at T in Figures 6 and 7 with the tab -22 on the inside, so that it protects the twig ,-T from contact with the adhesive. The ends of thestrip ure 7, and being coated with adhesive, triey lwm adhere together.

the twig, even if the twisting it not tight. My improved label readily accommodates .itselfvto growth of the twig by, gradual separation of the ends of the strip 20, whlcharennlv held together by the adhesive 2!. As has already been mentioned the tab 22 protects the twig T from contact with the adhesive. i a

' In Figure 8 I have showna similar. use of the.

label. Howevenin this flgure, it will be'observed that only' the tab 24 has been removed. The tab- 21 remains inplace. The adhesive exposed by the removalof thetab 24, however, suffices-to cause the end of strip 20 toadheresto thegtab 21, which in turn adheres to'the strip 22,.so that the-same result is achieved.

1 As the label is soft and pliable assessesdates itself readily to all contours oi the article In Figure 9 I have ownthe oi m' C-lmproved label on a marker M in the formof.a slat of wood or thelike, such as is stuchinto the 22 are next pressedtogether asf shown in Fig-i;

While 1 havelhel'dn disclosed severalembodimm,momma-mesa.5am.. when thetab 42 isremoved'thisidhesiveltick-f A second tab, overlies the adhesive on other end of the strip 42 and has an end 42 overlying t flap no: thetab 4:. This being free of adhesive is-readily-g'rasped by the tin gers when-thetab is tobe; removed. H 1

- 1-11. 1.1m i r em -PI m atqrm-mvammmstwis nu mamas v 'theviewbfclnsslmilar r .doubiedjaboutgtheitwig I mam-meow; g, tact sviththe adhesive 41,;

that-o1, 3.? 1n

ing to theouter .i'ace oftheitab-42.

ments of myinvention andcdescribed'the :man-

ner of ite use itwillbe understood that my invention zmaybeembodied inamany other forms without-departing fromthe spiritthereot'aswill be .obviousto-those skilled in the art, and it will further. be understoodthat. the disclosure herein-isbvwaykof illustration merely India not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, andzthat I "GODOtIMIt MJMMUWIOIDYflIe prior art. ,2; 1 v I describedmymu 11.

lustrated'its use, .what' I claim as and deire tosecure bylietters latent isi I ground toindicatethekind of seed that has been planted' For this purpose all of the tabs 22, 24

and 21 may be removed, completelyexposing the adhesive 2|, and the strip 20, appropriately itself to all the contours of the treeand the adhesive -coating 2|. by which the label in PM mese s e mww e r 1 Aplantlabel comprisingalheetoifl'c'xible water'resistantmaterial adaptediormarking on one face of a pla'ntand a coating oi non-drying adhesive on its other face; 'atab of material superimposed on the "oi'sald adhesive coatedface, thereon normally mummies toa rentively smallporflbsiofthe. outside face of the :tab, wherebyitis contact with the adhesive, and communes: a single ply oi' ilexible' sheet overlying each end =01 ma -Ewes: or {said 1m. named tabs having an extension adapted to overlie said first tab, and tooverlap the extension of the other of said last mentioned tabs, whereby it be maintainedoutoi contact with said adhesive. 

